I have a question but I'm not sure I'm posting it in the right place so bear with me.

I have a Sony T-1 and I'm shopping around for epub books here in Canada. I've been dying to try Diesel books as they seem to charge the American price for ebooks. Compared with Kobo or the Sony.ca store this is too good to be true. Is it? Is there some tax slapped on the credit card after the fact because I'm buying from an American store within Canada? Cause the books are literally several dollars cheaper at Diesel.

I did ask the company and from their end they don't add any additional fees. I just wondered if Canada does. If you're a Canadian who's ever received a package from the US you might know what I mean.

As for our dollar, we're kind of at par with the US. I wasn't worried about that. Just those odd surprise charges our government likes to tack on things bought straight from the US.

I've often bought from Diesel and booksonboard, no taxes charged for Canadians... Was a few months ago from Diesel so it could have changed (I doubt it though) and for sure BoB is still no tax (they are based in Texas).
So if the price is a little lower than our Canadian sources, and it often is, they are cheaper even with the exchange because no tax...

If you buy anything for USD with a CAD card there is a fee and exchange rate even if at par. Fee is usually 2-2.5% and exchange rate about 1% over current exchange rate. Slightly more than changing money at the bank.

Should be pretty trivial amount, ( 30-50 cents for a $10 book) but if concerned contact your credit card issuer.

You can get a USD visa, but would have to use it a lot to make up for the anual fee, plus still pay conversion rate.

If you buy anything for USD with a CAD card there is a fee and exchange rate even if at par. Fee is usually 2-2.5% and exchange rate about 1% over current exchange rate. Slightly more than changing money at the bank.

Should be pretty trivial amount, ( 30-50 cents for a $10 book) but if concerned contact your credit card issuer.

You can get a USD visa, but would have to use it a lot to make up for the anual fee, plus still pay conversion rate.

Helen

My Capitol One card doesn't charge a fee, just the exchange rate. My TD visa Infinite card also charges only the exchange rate; that's for online transactions...certain products can get charged duty when shipped however ebooks only cost me the exchange which has been minimal for some time now.

My Capitol One card doesn't charge a fee, just the exchange rate. My TD visa Infinite card also charges only the exchange rate; that's for online transactions...certain products can get charged duty when shipped however ebooks only cost me the exchange which has been minimal for some time now.

Wow you are getting quite a deal.

AFAIK Visa itself (and Mastercard) sets the fee (sometimes called premium)at 2.5% and it is lumped in with exchange rate on the statement and not on a seperate line by itself, making the exchange on a $10 item 35 cents instead of under 10 cents typically if the exchange rate is 1%.

So lucky you if your card issuers have managed to get around this. Mine, TD MC, CIBC Visa, Capital One Platinum MC, Presidents Choice MC, etc. haven't as yet, according to my statements when I check on the exchange rate on the day of a USD purchase. Oh well.

AFAIK Visa itself (and Mastercard) sets the fee (sometimes called premium)at 2.5% and it is lumped in with exchange rate on the statement and not on a seperate line by itself, making the exchange on a $10 item 35 cents instead of under 10 cents typically if the exchange rate is 1%.

So lucky you if your card issuers have managed to get around this. Mine, TD MC, CIBC Visa, Capital One Platinum MC, Presidents Choice MC, etc. haven't as yet, according to my statements when I check on the exchange rate on the day of a USD purchase. Oh well.

Helen

I guess the $120/yr fee for the Infinite card should have some perks to lessen the pain... Capitol One doesn't charge either for their US or their Canadian customers, it's one of their "selling points". My TD does charge a fee for purchases physically made in the US however (just not the online ones).